Surgical drain

ABSTRACT

A SURGICAL DRAIN TO COLLECT THE SPILLING OF THE CONTENTS OF PERITONEAL MASSES DURING SURGICAL EXCISION BY PROVIDING DRAINAGE MEANS FOR GAS AND FLUID AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ENCAPSULATING THE EXCISED TISSUE BEING REMOVED THEREOF.

F. .l. PASHKOW SURGICAL DRAIN Filed Dec.

Sept. 20, 1971 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. J. PASHKOW FREDRIC BY WM *M ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,605,747 SURGICAL DRA1N Fredric J. Pashkow, 3423B Maize Road, Columbus, Ohio 43224 Filed Dec. 19, 1969, Ser. No. 886,652 Int. Cl. A61b 17/00; A61m 1/00 US. Cl. 128303 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A surgical drain to collect the spilling of the contents of peritoneal masses during surgical excision by prov1ding drainage means for gas and fluid and simultaneously encapsulating the excised tissue being removed thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to the surgical field and more particularly to a method of and means for removing tissue masses while simultaneously enclosing the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Various means have been proposed for withdrawing or draining gas and fluids from tissues being excised during surgery. Most of these devices have required the use of packings to absorb the draining fluids, which packings tend to cause some irritation to surrounding tissue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention eliminates certain of the packings required by the prior art devices used during the excision of tissue, such as, for example, cystic tumors, and provides means for effectively sealing and enclosing the tumors during surgical excision.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a surgical drain device for draining gas and fluids discharged from cystic tumors or the like during excision while at the same time sealing and enclosing the excised tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a surgical drain device embodying the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the sealing and enclosing means of the invention being advanced over tissue being removed by surgical excision;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing the flexible membrane of the surgical drain device at an advanced position during surgery; and

FIG. 4 is a view of the device illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the flexible membrane has been advanced to completely enclose the tissue being excised.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown a surgical drain device for sealing and enclosing tissue, such as, for example, cystic tumors being removed by surgical excision. The device comprises a main body portion which includes a substantially bell-shaped section preferably formed of a semi-rigid material such as a vinyl plastic. A first suction drain outlet 12 is provided and disposed at a suitable position intermediate the reduced open end 14 and the opposite enlarged open end 16.

The reduced open end 14 of the bell-shaped section 10, which is, in effect, a second drain outlet, is provided with a hollow seal 18 which has a hollow trocar or needle 20 extending substantially coaxially through bellshaped section 10. The reduced end 14 of the main body portion is preferably formed to be pliable for purposes of the operation of the device, as will become apparent hereinafter. The distal end 22 of the needle 20 normally does not extend outwardly beyond the enlarged open end 16 and is caused to extend beyond the plane of the open end 16 only upon operation of the device. The seal 18 is connected to a drain hose 24 which is coupled to a remotely disposed pumping device not shown. It will be appreciated that the hollow interior of the needle 20, the hollow interior of the seal 18, and the hose 24 provide communication from the distal end 22 of the needle 20 to the above noted pumping device. Suitable valving can be incorporated in the hose 24 to permit for selective opening and closing thereof.

The enlarged open end 16 of the bell-shaped section 10 is provided with a flexible sheet material membrane 26 which may be formed of a light gauge vinyl material. The membrane 26 is attached to the marginal edge portion of the open end 16 in a gas and fluid-tight sealing relation. The opposite end portion of the membrane 26 is typically formed to contain a draw string 28 which may be selectively employed to open or close the end of the membrane 26. The specific operation will become clearly apparent hereinafter.

The operation of the device will be apparent from considering FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, in succession. Initially, the end of the membrane 26 containing the draw string 28 is opened and the membrane is withdrawn to the region of the enlarged open end 16 of the main body portion 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The enlarged open end 16 of the drainage device is disposed adjacent the tissue being removed. Since it has been found that the device is useful for the removal of polypoid lesions, reference will be made in the example to such lesions. At this point in the operation, the vacuum pumps are energized, thereby causing a reduction in the pressure in the drain outlets 12 and 14. Initially, the distal sharp end 22 of the hollow needle 20 is positioned inwardly of the plane of the enlarged open end 16 of the main body portion. With the enlarged open end 16 disposed snugly against the tissue to be removed, the suction effected by the vacuum being created through the outlet 12 causes the hollow needle or trocar 20 to be advanced toward the tissue and outwardly of the plane of the enlarged open end 16. The advance of the trocar 20 is made possible due to the pliable nature of the material of the reduced end 14, allowing the sharp distal end 22 to be inserted into the tissue of the lesion 30 being removed. Thereby, any fluid discharged by the lesion 30 is caused to enter the hollow interior of the needle 20 and is drawn off through the hose 24 to a collection chamber, not shown. Simultaneously with the excision of the lesion 30, the membrane 26 is advanced to the position illustrated in FIG. 3, and finally, to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. Since there is a reduced pressure constantly being maintained at the first draining outlet 12, any gases or fluids escaping from the exterior of the lesion 30 are drawn 01f therethrough. Also, due to the reduced pressure at the outlet 12, the zone between the interior of the membrane 26 and the exterior of the lesion 30 is evacuated, thereby tending to maintain the membrane 26 in close proximity to the exterior of the lesion.

Thus, during the surgical excision, the above described device is effective to bring about the desired drainage from within and Without the tissue being removed.

As the final step in the operation of the device as shown in FIG. 4, the draw string 28 is drawn tight and tied.

It will be appreciated that the above described invention provides a relatively simple means by which tumors can be removed without any spilling. There are some tumors that are so malignant that one cell spilled can be ultimately fatal to the patient.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.

I claim:

1. A surgical drain device comprising:

a hollow main body portion formed of air-impermeable material, said body portion having a first drainage outlet and a second drainage outlet;

a hollow needle disposed within said main body portion and in communication with one of said drainage outlets, the distal end of said needle adapted to extend beyond the main body portion; and

a flexible membrane sealingly attached to said main body portion, said membrane having an open end provided with means for opening and closing the same.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said main body portion is bell-shaped.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said main body portion is formed of a plastic material.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said plastic material is vinyl.

5. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible membrane is formed of a plastic material.

6. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said plastic material is vinyl.

7. The invention defined in claim 1 including means for sealing the outer portion of said needle to the respective drainage outlet.

8. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said main body portion has a reduced diameter portion including the first drainage outlet and is formed of pliable material, and an enlarged diameter portion to which said flexible membrane is attached.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein the second drainage outlet is disposed in said main body portion intermediate the reduced diameter portion and the enlarged diameter portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,835,253 5/1958 Borgeson 128-299X 2,945,496 7/1960 Fosdal 128-297 3,042,041 7/1962 Jascalevich 12827 6 3,111,943 11/1963 Orndorff 128-303X 3,372,696 3/1968 Rudie 128-296X 3,386,444 6/1968 Brenner et al. 128- 292 3,435,821 4/1969 Bennett 128132D FOREIGN PATENTS 1,558,162 1/1969 France.

CHARLES F. ROSENBAUM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128-276, 292, 350 

